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Now is the moment to commence assessing Alexander Isak equitably as a £125 million Liverpool centre forward, Arne Slot commented on the weekend. Therefore, the assessment should be critical, but as Britain’s most expensive player was seated next to Mohamed Salah on the Reds bench while the Premier League champions tried in vain to force an equaliser versus Manchester United in their absence, it was not Slot’s misfiring forward line that warranted the strongest blame at the stadium. The team's defence has disappeared.

Anonymous Display from Key Forwards

Yes, the Swedish striker was mostly anonymous in the No 9 position and the Egyptian winger subpar once more as his personal struggles persisted against the club he typically scores against. The Sweden player had his first attempt on goal in the top division as a Reds player in the first half, well saved by the opposition's latest shot-stopper Senne Lammens. The forward wasted a golden after the break opportunity in front of the Kop and neither complain when their substitution were shown. The Dutch attacker also struck the crossbar on multiple occasions and somehow was unable to net a second moments after the defender's winner.

Impossible Defeat In Spite of Opportunities

It should have been unthinkable for Liverpool to be defeated in a match in which they created numerous chances, the manager claimed. But it is not impossible with a backline in such condition, as Crystal Palace, another rival and currently Manchester United have shown.

Defensive Collapse Under Scrutiny

While overseeing a fourth straight loss as Liverpool manager, the first person to achieve this since Brendan Rodgers in years past, Slot must have been frustrated at a defensive performance that allowed United to dominate as well as their initial win at Anfield in nearly a decade. Filled with the repeated issues that Liverpool’s coaching staff had worked on fixing following the international break, including another set-piece goal, it was a display that totally derailed the champions’ after halftime comeback and cost them the game.

Momentum Squandered Despite Uptick

Momentum was at last with the hosts when the substitute cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo’s quick opener. Liverpool could sense one more late victory with substitutes one attacker, Curtis Jones and another forward igniting progress and United in defensive mode. Rather, it was another late top-flight loss, the third straight, after Liverpool’s dead-ball weaknesses re-emerged and Maguire found himself one of three United players free past Ibrahima Konaté in the closing stages.

Purposeful Rivals Excel

A powerful goal into the goal that the player blazed over in the dying seconds of last season’s 2-2 draw gave Ruben Amorim the best win of his turbulent United tenure. For all the negativity around the coach it was his team that performed with definite plan and a smartly implemented plan for the bulk of a thrilling contest. The first consecutive league victories of Amorim’s reign were the outcome. The Liverpool team once more appeared like unfamiliar at times, especially when conceding a dead-ball goal for the fifth occasion in the Premier League this season.

Early Opener Exposes Backline Flaws

Liverpool were exposed from the inception to the finish of the attacker's 62-second first goal. There was little impact on the first header from Virgil van Dijk, a probable consequence of having to pass two players to reach the pass, admittedly, and no pressure on the playmaker when he took possession and released the winger in space on the right flank. the defender was late to respond, the centre-back slow to track back and mark the forward's movement while the goalkeeper, deputising for the injured first-choice keeper in net, was easily beaten from the angle.

Refereeing and Concentration Questions

The manager could justifiably point to his head and wonder where the whistle was from Michael Oliver, an official with whom he has a contentious past, but also doubt the focus and communication among his backline. The forward's strike means the team have managed only a couple of clean sheets in a dozen games so far, the most recent coming many matches previously at another ground.

Constant Targeting of Left Flank

The visitors exposed the left side frequently in a opening period in which the midfielder, another player and also the attacker all nearly scored to doubling the away team's lead. Releasing the winger quickly versus Kerkez was clearly part of the manager's strategy. It worked time and again in the first half. The £40m new arrival from his former club experienced a further difficult match in a club shirt. Set-pieces were also a issue for Andy Robertson’s chosen successor, who almost sent the forward in on goal while attempting an challenge. The defender and Van Dijk seem on different wavelengths at present.

Manager’s Explanation and Acknowledgment

“Our approach involves a many risks,” the head coach explained following the opposition's win. “Following the second half we had six or seven attacking players on the field. That’s maybe why our organization for the dead-ball was less organized as we usually are. Usually we would have more defending players on the field. Maybe it is a fluke but it is not an excuse. We know we have to improve.”